I work for a Train Operating Company and its standard practice for all office based management grades to operate as Train Managers when required due to sickness, staff shortages etc. They are safety critical trained but not revenue or ticketing.
Being former cabin crew myself, spending a flight in the cabin as opposed to behind a locked door will give a very good reality check for some pilots on the stresses and strains of being face to face for hours on end with the SLF!